Floor clip and the method of making



'May 6, 1941. *1, A MacLEAN Re. 21,792

4 FLooR CLIP AND THE METHOD 0F MAKING SAME Y original Filed Feb. 9, 1931Reis-sued May 6, 1941 FLOOR CLIP AND THE METHOD OF SAME MAKING John A.MacLean, deceased, late of Chicago, Ill.,

by MacLean-Fogg Lock Nut Company,

Chicago, 111.

assignee,

Original No. 1,922,814, dated August 15, 1933, Se-

rial No. 514,478, February for reissue and division Serial No. 370,428

18 Claims.

The invention relates to means for securing floor boards and moreparticularly wooden floor boards or planks to a supporting structure ofthe steel beam type.

Anobject of the present invention is to provide 'an improved floor clipfor securing floor boards to a supporting beam or sill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip which is simple inconstruction and at the same time provide a clip which effectivelysecures the floor ,boards to asupporting sill.

Another object of the invention is an improved method of constructing aclip of the above type from a bar of rolled metal stock.

Another object of the invention ls the improved method of constructingla clip of the above type from predetermined lengths or widths of metalbars-of the desired cross-sectional form which provides for a minimumamount of tooling when fabricating such lengths or widths into theirfinal form.

Another object of the invention is the improved method of constructing aclip of the above type from predetermined lengths or widths of metalbars of the desired cross-sectional form which provides the clipfabricated from such lengths or widths with integral means for lockingthe nut which clamps the clip in securing position against rotation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of noveldetails of construction and arrangement of parts as will be more fully`hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaim's.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawing, in which several forms of the invention areillustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a floor construction showingthe application of one .of the devices of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view `oi' the rolled metal bar fromwhich one form of the device of the invention is fabricated;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clip associated with the floorconstruction of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the clip illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a right end elevation of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 4.

The present reissue application is one of two applications covering thesubject-matter of the original patent, and this `application relatesparticularly to the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 oi said patentand to the method of making 9, 1931. Application December 16, 1940,

(ci. zii-14s) iioork clips. The co-pending application, Serial No.370,429, filed December 16, 1940, relates to the subjects-matter ofFigs. 7 to 15, inclusive, of the original patent.

Referring now to the drawing, and particul larly to Figs. 1 to 6,inclusive, in which one form of the invention is illustrated, thereference character rv2 indicates the side sill of a railway car,and'which extends longitudinally thereof, and usually comprises an Ibeam or a U beam having a horizontally disposed upper sill flange 3. Thesill 2 is adapted to support the floor -boards extending across the car,one of which is indicated by the reference character 4 and securedkthereto by means of a clip indicated generally by the referencecharacter 5. The clip 5 is fabricated from a predetermined length of arolled metal bar 6 of the form illustrated in transverse section in Fig.2 and consists of Ya. main body portion 1 of rectangular cross-sectionand. a narrow integrally formed rib formation 8 extending laterally froma side of the same.

' The clip 5 is fabricated from a predetermined length of the bar 6 bymeans of a suitable shearing and forming operation to provide the samewith a frame engaging iiange in the form of an offset portion 9 at oneend thereof to position this portieri 9 out of the plane of the body ofthe clip and at the proper angle so as to conform to the angle of thelower face of the sill iiange 3 while the horizontal body of, the clip 5or attaching flange bears against the underside of the board 4. Atoothed or prong formation l0 is formed at the forward end of the bodyof the clipl bolt opening l2 in the clip and on a line of sevy era'nce'sufficiently spaced from said opening or aperture to leavel asubstantial unbroken reinforcing area between said line and saidaperture. This sheared portion forms a wing member I3 having its freeendin the general shape of a `tongue arcuately formed and directed downvwardly and provides means for locking the nut which secures the clip inIfastening position against rotation,l as will presently be described.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the board 4 is provided with a bolt hole 20adjacent the edge of the sill board I to the sill 2 against movement.'Ihe clip 5 as provided'wlth the bolt opening l2 for the passage ofthe-bolt 2i may now be placed on the same and positioned to permit theangularly disposed offset 9 to contact the lower face of the sill flange3. A nut 22 may now be threaded on the bolt 2I and threaded home toforce the tooth or prong I into the-'underside of the board I and placethe horizontal body of the clip in firm contact with the underside ofthe board 4 and in the plane of the upper face of the sill 2 whichincludes the sill flange 3. The wing I3 may now be bent down by engagingthe downwardly directed forward portion of'the same by a suitable toolfrom its position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to its lockingposition. When in locking position the wing I3 lies adjacent one side ofthe nut 22 as clearly illustrated in Pig. 1 and prevents rotation ofsame 5 the board 4 is firmly upper face of the sill 2, I0 thus embeddedin the in turn. prevents rotation held in contact with the underside ofthe board 4 of the clip when in fasand by the use of the clip flange 3and is adapted to receive the bolt 2I which extends therethrough. Thisbolt 2I in combination with the clip 5 secures the iloor cover all suchchanges as come'wlthln the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. The method of making a fastening clip which consists in shearing ablank of predetermined length from al metal bar having. a rectangularcross-section and a laterally extending rib and simultaneously formingsaid blank to proand the tooth or prong tening position. 'I'he wing I3integral with the clip provides locking means for the nut 22 andprevents the same from working loose by reason of the fact that the wingI3 forms an integral part of the clip 5` and lies in close proximity toa face of the nut 22.

One of the most important characteristics of the floor 'clips embodyingthe preferred embodiment of the invention lies in the fact that the boltlocking members are so constructed that they are readily bendable insuch a direction as to move into nut locking position, but these nutlocking members are also adapted to withstand the turning movement ofthe nut with a maxlmum resistance.

Thus the nut locking flange I3 is made of such cross section,particularly at the 'point of bending, preferably only a small fractionof the cross section of the body of the clip taken on a transverse lineat the base of the locking flange, that it can readily be bent downwardfrom the dotted line position of Fig. l tothe full line position becausethe bending takes place away from the face of the floor clip. and thenut locking flange is relatively thin at the point where the bendingtakes place. t

The nut locking flange is, however, adapted to resist turning of the nut22 by the edgewise engagement of the flange I3 and any bending of theflange in that direction would be transverse to the direction of bendingof the nut locking flange which takes place during the-movement from thedotted line position of Fig. 1 to the full line position. Thus the crosssection of the nut locking flange is suitably weakened to facilitate thebending in such direction as to bring the flange into nut lockingengagement with the nut, but its strength and rigidity are maintained ina transverse direction to resist turning of the nut.

While there has been illustrated and described the iloor clip and itsvarious modifications associated with a floor construction applicable toa railway car, it ls to be understood that they are applicable for usein securing the boards of a floor in various constructions. Neithershould the invention be limited to the exact structures as shown. vaschanges and modifications will `readily suggest themselves, and it isdesired to l integral section attached thickness into position to videthe clip with a. downwardly directed rib por-tion and upwardly extendingprong and an offset portion angularly displaced with relation to thebody of the clip.

2. 'I'he method of making a. fastening clip which consists in shearing ablank of predetermined length from a metal bar having abody ofrectangular cross-sectionand a laterally extending rib andsimultaneously shearing and forming said blank to provide the clip witha downwardly directed tongue comprising a portion of said rib and anupwardly extending prong comprising the oppositely biased end of thesection'.

3; The method of making a fastening clip which consists in shearing ablank of predetermined length from a metal bar having a body ofrectangular cross-section and a laterally extending rib and thensimultaneously shearing and forming said blank to provide the clip witha downwardly directed tongue comprising a portion of said rib, an formedof the oppositely biased end of the section and an offset portionangularly displaced with relation to the body of the clip.

4. The method of forming floor clips for securing a floor to astructural member, comprising forming a metal meniber having a sectionofa *thickness suitable fora floor clip and an thereto of a lesserthickness suitable for a bendable nut lock, cutting-said metal memberintosuitable lengths. forming apertures in said member for bolts, andturning up a portion of said section of lesser be utilized as afnutlock.

5. In a floor clip for securing floors to structural frame members, anintegral metal member havingan attaching flange provided with anaperture for receiving a securing bolt to secure said member; a frameengaging flange carried by said clip, an offset in said clip adjoiningsaid attaching ange and frame engaging flange and bringing said frameengaging flange into a different plane, whereby the flooring may belocated on one side of the frame and the clip may engagethe oppositeside of the frame, and an integral extension of said clip adapted to bebent up into engagement with a nut on the securing bolt for securing thenut in p-redetermined position by engagement with the flat surfaces onthe nut, and integral pointed means carried by said clip for engaging inthe ioor and preventoffset, and an integral extension of said bodyformed of lesser thickness and adapted ,to be bent, said extensionbeingprovided with abendable -part for engaging the nut of the securing zeltand securing said nut in predetermined posi- 7. A floor clip for carflooring or the like,

comprising an integralrmetal "member having a,

upwardly extending prong supporting body forming an attaching ange andhaving a bolt aperture, said body having an offset and a frame engagingflange carried by said offset., and an integral extension of said bodyformed of lesser thickness and adapted to be bent, said extension beinglocated along the side of said clip and having a cut between a part ofsaid extension and the body of said clip, whereby the end of saidextension forms a bendable lug located adjacent the aperture and adapt'-ed to be bent into engagement with the nut of a position. i 8, In afloor clip for securing floors to structural frame members, an integralmetal member having an attaching flange provided with an aperture forreceiving a securing bolt to secure said member, a frame engaging`flange carried by said clip, an offset in said clip adjoining saidattaching flange and frame engaging flange and bringing said frameengaging flange into a different plane, whereby the flooring may be1ocated on one side of the frame and the clip may engage the oppositeside of the frame, and an integral extension of said clip adapted to bebent into engagement with a nut on the securing bolt for securing thenut in predetermined position by engagement with the flat surfaces onthe nut, said integral extension having its crosssectional area formedin such a manner as to facilitate bending of said extension intonutlocking engagement and to resist bending in a. transverse directionby rotation of a nut engaged thereby..

9.1 In a floor clip for securing fioorsto structural frame members, anintegral metal member having an attaching iiange provided with an`aperture for receiving a securing bolt to secure said member, a frameengaging ange carried by said clip., an offset in said clip adjoiningsaid attaching flange and frame engaging flange and bringing said frameengaging flange into a different plane, whereby,the flooring may beloengage the opposite side of the frame, and an integral extension ofsaid clip adapted to be bent into engagement with a nut on the securingbolt for securing the nut in predetermined -position nut and having areduced cross-sectional area at the point of bending to facilitate itsmovement into nut-engaging position.

10. In a floor clip for securing floors to structural frame members, anintegral metal member having an attaching flange provided with anaperture for receiving a securing bolt to secure said member, a frameengaging flange carried by said clip, an offset in said clip adjoiningsaid attaching flange and frame engaging flange and bringing said frameengaging :flange into a different plane, whereby the ooring may belocated on one side of the frame and the'cli-p may engage the oppositeside of the frame, and an integral extension of said clip adapted to bebent intoV engagement with a nut on the securing bolt forV securing thenut in predetermined position by engagement with the flat surfaces onthe nut, said integral extension. comprising a. part extending from theplane of said clip and having a greater dimension in the direction ofits resistance to the turning of the nut than its dimension in thedirection of its bending into nut locking position and thecross-sectional area of said extension at the point of bending beingsecuring bolt to locate the niit in predetermined cated on one side ofthe frame and the clip may by engagement with the fiat surfaces on thenut, said integral extension extending outward from the plane of saidclip for engagement with aonly a small fraction of the cross-sectionalarea of the clip at the base of said extension on a line parallel tosaid offset.

1l. In a floor clip for securing floors to structural frame members, anintegral metal member .y

having an attaching flange provided with an aperture for receiving asecuring bolt to secure said member, a frame engaging flange carried bysaid clip,l an offset. in said clip adjoining said attaching flange andframe engaging flange and bringing said frame engaging flange into adifferent plane, whereby the flooring may be located on one side of theframe and the clipmay engage the opposite side of the frame, andan'integral ex-l tension of said clip adapted to be bent into en-`gagement with a nut on thesecuring bolt for securing the nut inpredetermined position by engagement -with the flat surfaces on the nut,said integral extension initially extending from the plane of said clipand being located for edgewise engagement `with the lateral surface of anut to resist the turning movement of said nut most effectively.

12. In combination in a floor clip for securing together a sill and afloor board supported thereby, a body including a portion for engagingthe underside of said board and another portion for engaging under thesill, one of said portions being constructed to receive fastening meansfor securing the clip to the sill and the floor board, v

, by to reduce resistance to bending of the tongue into said lockingengagement, as compared-With the resistance to bending of the body inthe same general direction.

13'. In combination in a floor clip for securing together a sill and aoor board supported thereby, a body including a portion for engagingthe. underside of the board and another portion for engaging under thesill, one of said portions being constructed to receive fastening meansfor securing the clip means integral with one of said portions forlocking said fastening means, said integral means comprising arelatively iiat tongue arranged to extend at an angle to its associatedportion to present an edge area of said tongue for locking engagementwith the /fastening means.

=14. In combination in a oor clip for securing together a sill and afloor board supported thereby, a body including a portion for engagingthe underside of the board and another portion for engaging under thesill, one of said por-tions having an aperturel to receive fasteningmeans for securing the clip to the sill and to thefioor board,

severed from the body along a line adjacent to and spaced from saidaperture and having its severed edge disposed for engagement with saidfasteningl means.

I1:5. In combination in a floor clip for securing together a sill and afloor board supported thereby, a body including a portion for engagingthe underside of the bc ird and another portion fox'V 'engaging underthe sill, one ofportions havto the sill and the floor board, and

tongue being partially severed from the associated body portion in sucha manner as .to engage said fastening means edgewise, andthe spacing ofthe line of severance of said tongue from said aperture leaving asubstantial unbroken reinforcing area between the line of severance andsaid aper' ture.

16. In a floor clip for securing iloors to structural frame members, abody formed from metal substantially resistant to distorting forceswhile in use and includinga frame ilange and a oor eng-aging ilange, anoffset in said body connecting said ilanges in different planes so thatthe frame engaging iange is adapted to engage the underside of a framemember which supports a oor member on the upper side thereof, one ofsaid flanges having an aperture to receive a se- 'curing boit assemblyextending down from the -iloor member to attach the clip lto the oormember a-nd thereby secure the door member to the frame, member, and agenerally at portion on one of said flanges y ing engagement with alaterally facing surface on a part of the securing bolt assembly to holdrotation, said locking portion having a cross-sectional area at thepoint of bending equal to only a small fraction oi' the cross-sectionalarea of the body at the base of said portion so that said 'portion caneasily be bent into said locking engagement but is of sumcientproportions to resist bending out of said locking-engagement under theinuence of pressureexerted by said engaged part.

17. A door clip of the character described for securing floor andstructural frame members together comprising, in combination, a metalbody 'including a ange for engaging the underside of the frame memberand a flange for engaging the v.underside of, the oor member, an offsetin said adapted to be bent into iockbody connecting said flanges indifferent planes so as to accommodate the different planes of theengaged frame and :door surfaces, one of said flanges having an apertureto sembly extending down from the floor to attach the clip tothe iloorand thereby secure the iloor to the frame element, and a generally ilatportion of oneof said flanges adapted to be bent into locking engagementat one of its edges with a laterally facing surface on a part oi thesecuring bolt assembly whereby to hold such part of the securing boltassembly against rotation.

18. In a oor clip i'or securing iioors to struc'- tural frame members. arelatively heavy metal body including a frame engaging flange and afloor engaging iiange, an odset in said body connecting said ilanges indifferent planes so that the frame engaging flange is adapted to engagethe underside of a frame member which supports a oor member on the upperside thereof, one of said flanges having an the shank of a securing boltassembly extending down from the floor member to attach the clip to 'theiioor member and thereby secure the floor member to lthe frame member.and an integral portion severed along a line adjacent to said aperturefrom one oi said flanges and adapted to be bent to drive a severed'edgearea of the portion into locking engagement 'with a laterally facingsurface of a part ofthe securing bolt assembly to hold such part 'of thebolt assembly against rotation, vsaid integral portion being of across-sectional structure relative to the body to facilitate bending ofthe portion into locking enf gagement but to resist bending out oflocking engagement by force exerted by Said engaged part of the securingbolt assembly un-ler ordinary conditions in use tending to rotate thelatter.

MAcLEAN-FOGG LOCK NUT COMPANY. 'f

Assignee of John A. MacLean, Deceased,

ByJOI-IN A. MAULEAN, Jn.,

President.

receive a securing bolt asaperture for receiving

